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Shpongle - Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost
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Jikkenteki
Jikkenteki
Started Topics :
20
Posts :
356
Posted : May 27, 2005 06:23
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Shpongle - Nothing Lasts... But Nothing Is Lost
Twisted Records TWSCD28, Solstice Music SOLMC053 2005
1 Botanical Dimensions (4:37)
2 Outer Shpongolia (2:33)
3 Levitation Nation (3:40)
4 Periscopes of Consciousness (1:54)
5 Schmaltz Herring (2:21)
6 Nothing Lasts (4:28)
7 Schnitzl'd in the Negev (4:18)
8 ...But Nothing is Lost (4:39)
9 When Shall I Be Free? (4:37)
10 The Stamen of the Shaman (4:11)
11 Circuits of the Imagination (3:12)
12 Linguistic Mystic (1:36)
13 Mentalism (2:54)
14 Invocation (2:40)
15 Molecular Superstructure (4:47)
16 Turn Up the Silence (3:22)
17 Exhalation (2:16)
18 Connoisseur of Hallucination (3:31)
19 The Nebbish Route (3:36)
20 Falling Awake (1:50)
So here it is; the newest, and supposedly last, Shpongle album. Given the buzz on various forums over the last few months, to say that this album has been highly anticipated is probably an understatement. As usual, fans in Japan (including myself) got the chance to purchase this release first through Solstice Musicfs release of it here.
It is probably the curse of Shpongle that this album will be compared to the two before it when it really should be viewed on its own merits. Shpongle, like all classic artists, are basically damned if they do and damned if they donft. If they cover too much new ground, some people will loudly complain that they have somehow gabandoned their rootsh, while if they donft change too much others will complain just as loudly that they are simply gputting out the same old thing to cash in on their nameh. Personally none of this concerns me as long as I like it, and to get that out of the way, let me say that I do indeed love it. Like the albums before it, Nothing Lasts takes and pushes the Shpongle envelope to new levels while still remaining Shpongle.
As probably everyone knows, this CD is more one long piece of music that just happens to be broken up on the CD as 20 individual parts. Sonically this album seems a bit closer in spirit to the first album to my ears, but with the inclusion of a lot more non-electronic instruments ala the second album. These elements are then mixed up, with some new flavorings thrown in, and then brought to nice nice boil leaving us with an album that is, as to be expected, unique.
As always, the production is top notch, although Nothing Lasts sounds a little looser, rawer and wilder than previous albums. Track by track descriptions here are worthless here, but itfs all there. The flute solos, the ethereal vocals, the clean guitar bits and the mad effects works are there. Levitation Nation and Schmaltz Herring gives us our Shpongle salsa fix. Nothing Lasts, Schnitzlfed In The Negev and cBut Nothing Is Lost give us some great odd time workouts. When Shall I Be Free? has a sort of Eastern vibe with lots of guitars. Sprinklings of psychedelic drum and bass are all over. Molecular Superstructure and Turn Up The Silence actually get things pumping pretty seriously, while The Nebbish Route is bound to ruffle a few feathers with a short section featuring some crunchy guitar work (personally I think it fits the flow).The Stamen Of The Shamanfs main melodies even come from a brass section.
As I said previously, this album seems a bit wilder to me that the previous ones. At many points it seems like itfs almost pushing the limits of what it can handle and is about to come crashing down upon itself, but it never does. Like all of Shponglefs music, undoubtedly this will be an album that some people will get right away, others will have to spend some time with, and some others will probably never get into. However this listener is happy to report that all his expectations of having a Shpongle musical journey were met. Hands down the best album of the year for me.
  New Album: Jikkenteki - Flights Of Infinity
Available for free at http://www.ektoplazm.com/free-music/jikkenteki-flights-of-infinity/
PAR-2 Productions http://www.par-2.com |
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----Dawn----
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
19
Posts :
789
Posted : May 27, 2005 07:32
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Been a fan of Posford's work since Celtic Cross but never really liked Shpongle (a bit too avant-garde and rambling for me) so i was really surprised that i liked this - or at least bits of it (like track 10 and especially the last few tracks). If you like this kinda new-age mystic psy-weirdness (now with added Ned Flanders lol) then you shouldn't be disappointed - and if you don't - well give it a listen anyway - you never know.
Peace and stuff  |
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dtmoney
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
13
Posts :
261
Posted : May 29, 2005 17:51
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I like where simon went with this album. The only way this album can be truly appreciated is as if all the tracks are listened to in succession one after another. The album is to take the listener on a journey.
I hate to compare it to the other shpongles, but this album gives tales of the inexpressible a kick in the teeth. It's not as psychedelic as the first one, however, that is not a bad thing because some of the world influences in this album are kicking. The hispanic/spanish vocals along with alot of string music elements gives some of the tracks on this album a very strong feeling of hot orange power.
I think this is an extremely high class album . It is ambient album of the year for me, and the best release of 2005 so far.
DT |
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^indika^
Started Topics :
0
Posts :
10
Posted : May 29, 2005 18:55
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More Psychedelic sounds added, more than the previous ones, some parts are so heavy that
i couldn't understand the exac sound of samples
it maked me dizzy a bit. Too much of everything
nothing conceptual throu a whole album.A big mess with a lot of music sampled parts. First part of album is more understandable for an ear second is a bit messy. 
In general it is a good album. It is defferent from the previous ones thats for sure. Also many new stuff that u didnt hear before. BPM is changing all over the album makes you jumpy and feel happy about many new samples |
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maka
Started Topics :
1
Posts :
91
Posted : May 29, 2005 20:29
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Don't like it much. It is similar to the first two, the same techniques but not much songwriting.
Some of the samples are irritating.
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traveller
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
234
Posts :
3803
Posted : May 29, 2005 21:32
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probably the best album ever..
i'll write some more once i actually get my real copy
"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program."
- Larry Niven |
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DiMiTry
IsraTrance Full Member
Started Topics :
70
Posts :
2299
Posted : May 29, 2005 22:49
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I think the "concept" for this album is life and death.. it seems to be the theme tying all the parts together. I've listened to it only about 4 times so far, and every time I liked it better and better. Very, very good album. Stellar production and execution, and I really like how it takes you into the depths of space before bringing you back to earth to party at some psychedelic Cuban tavern, then to the middle of the desert with Raja's flute, then flings you inside some surreal ball where you're served dmt-laced champagne by tuxedo-clad machine elves. Back and forth between worlds. like some psychedelic teleportation.
and all this from listening to it perfectly sober.
..it's just another party.. |
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Dibu-Tonic
Started Topics :
5
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48
Posted : May 29, 2005 23:29
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it's grotesc... I didn't like it, to much sounds without any emotions in it.
Simple sounds, simple basses, simple kicks.... 5/10 |
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traveller
IsraTrance Senior Member
Started Topics :
234
Posts :
3803
Posted : May 30, 2005 00:19
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Quote:
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On 2005-05-29 23:29, Dibu-Tonic wrote:
it's grotesc... I didn't like it, to much sounds without any emotions in it.
Simple sounds, simple basses, simple kicks.... 5/10
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You know for like 30 minutes already I've been trying to come up with some kind of a reply. I know, I know, we all like different things in life. It's just, what you say, to me it's beyond absurd. It's like more absurd than the whole wmds of Iraq thingy. I mean if I ever was to find myself in situation in which a decision was to be made. Whether to lose vision of hearing? It's because of albums like this that I would have to let vision go. I'd rather be able to hear such wonders than witness the spectrum of light playing and painting shapes ranging from majestic rhinos to beautiful female creatures to rainbows and northern lights. I'd rather be able to hear Shpongle (well okay not Shpongle alone.. but they sure are one of those very, very few groups, only psychedelic trance/ambient representative anyways that just weight the scale in favour of hearing..)
on side note to me this is the best album since 2001 
"The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program."
- Larry Niven |
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Jespar
Started Topics :
5
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118
Posted : May 30, 2005 02:39
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So far, it has had some sort of incredible effect on me, but I've only listened to the crummy mp3-release till this moment, so I'm looking forward to the day in this forthcoming week, where I will recieve my copy. No reviews needed, really. |
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duodenumz
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
15
Posts :
116
Posted : May 30, 2005 02:53
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"and I really like how it takes you into the depths of space "
Yeah, this album really gets deep and trippy in parts. It's that great introspective, slightly-dark vibe that I love sometimes. I'll listen to it again later tonight. |
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floatyhippyflower
Started Topics :
5
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538
Posted : May 30, 2005 04:40
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Thanks for review Jikkendeki.
I agree with you on most of your points, particularly with respect to the wild quality of the album. The first time I listened through it I felt like I'd run a marathon! It's a very intense, primal work and definitely one whose 'tracks' should be heard back to back; it comes across as a single musical entity comprising many strange and necessary limbs.
One minute you're flying through a cosmic dust storm communicating with alien beings from Cyberworld, and the next you're on top of a mountain looking out across a beautiful moon-lit forest while some ancient shanti tree baba plays you his life song. To get anywhere in between you have to dance like a cavewoman with shoes made of fire, girate your hips like an ovulating harem whore and sing like an honey-breathing angel.
Fucking good stuff.
3;~ |
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Voice of All
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
48
Posts :
762
Posted : May 30, 2005 10:53
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Very good album... Can't say how is it in comparision with other two discs yet... Only listening it for the first time. It seems like it less psychedelic then previous albums but I will listen to it more carefully and then figure it. For the first time I can say that it is cool to hear more trumpets and they are realy skilled.
Spiritual guides are to practice and serve in ways that cultivate awareness, empathy, and wisdom. |
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The Green Channel
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
41
Posts :
1025
Posted : May 30, 2005 11:37
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This album is indescribably fantastic. I have heard it at least 15 times all-ready, it just seems to get better and better.
We played the whole album during our radio program yesterday; the weather was hot in Denmark, so we placed a speaker outside the building in Christiania and people started dancing when we played the album. At one point I just stayed outside and smoked Blunts and was almost unable to finish our show  ..
An instant classic/masterpiece 10/10, Favs. The whole album.
I will have many unforgettable nights with this CD thats for sure, thank you so much Simon and Raja.
"Love is a way of life"
(Gaia, Love, Nature, Shamanism (.2A.y.0a.hu.1a.sc.2a.), Terence McKenna) |
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slomi
Inactive User
Started Topics :
23
Posts :
375
Posted : May 30, 2005 12:01
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fucking brilliant
pure music
nothing more to add
but is it just me or some of the melodies sounds like copy from old songs? just wondering...since it came up to mind while listening
10/10 anyway
shpongle rocks!!!!!
go buy it!
" You were born original... Don't die a copy.. "
- Some dude with a beard
Always remember:
Half of the cup is full...And the other half is on its way up... |
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